U.S. patent application number 12/843642 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-26 for touch sensing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shih-Po Chou, Kung-Chieh Huang, Seok Lyul Lee.
Application Number | 20120019450 12/843642 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44295638 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120019450 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Kung-Chieh ; et
al. |
January 26, 2012 |
TOUCH SENSING DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a touch sensing device. In one
embodiment, the touch sensing device includes a plurality of first
touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes,
alternately arranged along a first direction and a second direction
substantially perpendicular to the first direction to form a
sensing matrix, such that each first touch electrode and a
corresponding second touch electrode are entangled each other along
with at least one of the first and second directions.
Inventors: |
Huang; Kung-Chieh; (Hsinchu,
TW) ; Chou; Shih-Po; (Hsinchu, TW) ; Lee; Seok
Lyul; (Hsinchu, TW) |
Assignee: |
AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
44295638 |
Appl. No.: |
12/843642 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 ;
178/18.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0446 20190501;
G06F 3/0448 20190501; G06F 3/0445 20190501 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 ;
178/18.01 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Claims
1. A touch sensing device, comprising: a substrate having a
plurality of first sensing regions and a plurality of second
sensing regions arranged in a matrix; a plurality of first touch
electrodes, alternately arranged along a first direction, each of
the first touch electrodes including a plurality of first sensing
pads, each of the first sensing pads having a first sensing portion
disposed in a corresponding first sensing region and a first
complementary portion disposed in a corresponding second sensing
region; and a plurality of second touch electrodes, alternately
arranged along a second direction substantially perpendicular to
the first direction to form a sensing matrix, each of the second
touch electrodes including a plurality of second sensing pads, each
of the second sensing pads having a second sensing portion disposed
in a corresponding second sensing region and a second complementary
portion disposed in a corresponding first sensing region.
2. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein a shape of the
first complementary portion and the second complementary portion
comprises a triangle or a rhombus.
3. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
first touch electrodes and the plurality of second touch electrodes
are electrically insulated from one another.
4. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first sensing
pads of each of the first touch electrodes are electrically
connected to each other in series, and the second sensing pads of
each of the second touch electrodes are electrically connected to
each other in series.
5. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein each of the first
sensing pads is identical to or substantially different from each
of the second sensing pads.
6. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein each of the first
sensing pads has a shape of a polygon with more than four sides,
and each of the second sensing pads has a shape of a polygon with
more than four sides.
7. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first sensing
pads and the second sensing pads are disposed along the first
direction and the second direction, respectively, such that each of
the first sensing pads is surrounded by four second sensing pads
and vice versus.
8. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein each short side of
each of the first sensing pads is closest to and faces one shortest
side of each of the second sensing pads correspondingly.
9. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein each of the first
sensing pads further comprises at least one first extension portion
extended to another first sensing pad adjacent thereto, and each of
the second sensing pads further comprises at least one second
extension portion extended to another second sensing pad adjacent
thereto.
10. The touch sensing device of claim 9, wherein each of the first
sensing pads comprises at least one first recesses corresponding to
the at least one first extension portion, and each of the second
sensing pads comprises at least one second recesses corresponding
to the at least one second extension portion.
11. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and
second sensing pads are disposed such that each first sensing pad
and the corresponding second sensing pad are substantially
complementary to each other, and are entangled each other along
with the first and second directions
12. The touch sensing device of claim 11, wherein each of the first
sensing pads and each of the second sensing pads are formed
symmetrically along the first and second directions and have a
polygon structure that is substantially complementary to each
other.
13. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein each of the first
sensing pads and each of the second sensing pads are substantially
identical to each other and comprise a star-like structure having a
rectangular body and four rectangular members, each rectangular
member protruded from a corresponding side, respectively, of the
rectangular body, such that when disposed, each first sensing pad
and a corresponding second sensing pad are entangled each other
along with the first and second directions.
14. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein each of the first
touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes respectively is
formed of a conductive material.
15. A touch sensing device, comprising: a plurality of first touch
electrodes, each first touch electrode having a plurality of first
sensing pads, and a plurality of second touch electrodes, each
second touch electrode having a plurality of second sensing pads,
alternately arranged along a first direction and a second direction
substantially perpendicular to the first direction to form a
sensing matrix, such that each first sensing pad and a
corresponding second sensing pad are entangled each other along
with at least one of the first and second directions.
16. The touch sensing device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of
first touch electrodes and the plurality of second touch electrodes
are electrically insulated from one another.
17. The touch sensing device of claim 16, wherein the first sensing
pads of each of the first touch electrodes are electrically
connected to each other in series, and the second sensing pads of
each of the second touch electrodes are electrically connected to
each other in series.
18. The touch sensing device of claim 17, wherein each of the first
sensing pads is identical to or substantially different from each
of the second sensing pads.
19. The touch sensing device of claim 18, wherein each of the first
sensing pads is of a polygon with more than four sides, and each of
the second sensing pads is of a polygon with more than four
sides.
20. The touch sensing device of claim 19, wherein each of the first
sensing pads is a hexagon with two isosceles triangles oriented
such that the vertex of one isosceles triangle is opposite to the
vertex of the other isosceles triangle, and the base sides of the
two isosceles triangles are partially overlapped so that the
hexagon has four long sides with an equal first length, L1, and two
short sides with an equal second length, L2<L1, and each side
parallel to its corresponding opposite side, wherein each short
side defines an angle, .alpha., relative to two adjacent long
sides, respectively.
21. The touch sensing device of claim 20, wherein each of the
second sensing pads is a hexagon having two longest sides with an
equal first length, J1, and two shortest sides with an equal second
length, J2<J1, and each side parallel to its corresponding
opposite side, wherein each shortest side defines an angle, .beta.,
relative to two adjacent sides, respectively, wherein the angles
.alpha. and .beta. are complementary to each other, J1=L2 and
J2=L2.
22. The touch sensing device of claim 21, wherein the first sensing
pads and the second sensing pads are disposed along the first
direction and the second direction, respectively, such that each of
the first sensing pads and the corresponding second sensing pads
are entangled each other along with the second direction, and each
of the first sensing pads is surrounded by four second sensing pads
and vice versus.
23. The touch sensing device of claim 22, wherein each short side
of the first sensing pad is closest to and faces one shortest side
of the second sensing pad correspondingly.
24. The touch sensing device of claim 19, wherein each of the first
sensing pads comprises a plurality of first sensing portions
forming a diamond-shaped polygon, at least one first complementary
portion and at least one first extension portion formed at
corresponding vertexes of the diamond-shaped polygon along one of
the first and second directions, wherein each of the at least one
first complementary portion and the at least one first extension
portion is characterized with a dagger-like polygon, and wherein
the plurality of first sensing portions defines a plurality of
recesses having geometric shapes substantially complementary to the
at least one first complementary portion and the at least one first
extension portion.
25. The touch sensing device of claim 24, wherein each of the
second sensing pads comprises a plurality of second sensing
portions forming a diamond-shaped polygon, at least one second
complementary portion and at least one second extension portion
formed at corresponding vertexes of the diamond-shaped polygon
along the other of the first and second directions, wherein each of
the at least one second complementary portion and the at least one
second extension portion is characterized with a dagger-like
polygon, and wherein the plurality of second sensing portions
defines a plurality of recesses having geometric shapes
substantially complementary to the at least one second
complementary portion and the at least one second extension
portion.
26. The touch sensing device of claim 25, wherein the first and
second sensing pads are disposed such that each first sensing pad
and the corresponding second sensing pad are substantially
complementary to each other, and are entangled each other along
with the first and second directions.
27. The touch sensing device of claim 19, wherein each of the first
sensing pads and each of the second sensing pads are substantially
identical to each other and comprises a star-like structure having
a rectangular body and four rectangular members, each rectangular
member protruded from a corresponding side, respectively, of the
rectangular body, such that when disposed, each first sensing pad
and a corresponding second sensing pad are entangled each other
along with the first and second directions.
28. The touch sensing device of claim 19, wherein each of the first
sensing pads is formed symmetrically along the first and second
directions and has an I-like structure along the first direction, a
pair of polygon structures symmetrically extended from the middle
portion of the I-like structure alone the second direction, and a
pair of triangular tips symmetrically extending the pair of polygon
structures, respectively, alone the second direction.
29. The touch sensing device of claim 28, wherein each of the
second sensing pads is formed symmetrically along the first and
second directions and has a polygon structure that is substantially
complementary to each of the first sensing pads.
30. The touch sensing device of claim 29, wherein the first and
second sensing pads are disposed such that each first sensing pad
and the corresponding second sensing pad are substantially
complementary to each other, and are entangled each other along
with the first and second directions.
31. The touch sensing device of claim 15, wherein each of the
plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of second
touch electrodes respectively is formed of a conductive material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a touch sensing
device, and more particularly to touch sensor designs of a touch
sensing device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Touch sensing technology capable of providing a natural
interface between an electronic system and user has found
widespread applications in a variety of fields, for example, in
mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), automatic teller
machines (ATMs), game machines, medical devices, liquid crystal
display (LCD) devices, light emitting diode (LED) devices, plasma
display panel (PDP) devices, computing devices, and the like, where
a user may input desired information and/or operate the electronic
system through a touch sensing device associated with the
electronic system. A touch sensing device typically includes a
controller, a sensing circuit having a plurality of touch sensors
and a network of control lines electrically connecting the
plurality of touch sensors to the controller, and a touch screen
associated with the plurality of touch sensors.
[0003] There are at least two types of touch sensors available for
detection of a touch location. One is a resistive touch sensor that
includes two layers of transparent conductive material, such as a
transparent conductive oxide, separated by a gap. When touched with
sufficient force, one of the conductive layers flexes to make
contact with the other conductive layer. The location of the
contact point is detectable by a controller that senses the change
in resistance at the contact point. In response, the controller
performs a function, if any, associated with the contact point. The
other is a capacitive touch sensor that typically includes a single
conductive layer for touch detection. A finger touch to the sensor
provides a capacitively coupled path from the conductive layer
through the body to earth ground. The location of the contact point
is detectable by a controller that measures a capacitance change in
a capacitively coupled electrical signal at the touch location.
Accordingly, the controller performs a function, if any, associated
with the touch location.
[0004] Conventional capacitive touch panels utilize diamond-type
electrodes, as shown in FIG. 1a, and triangle-type electrodes, as
shown in FIG. 1b, as sensing units. For a triangle-type touch
panel, it utilizes the variation of the capacity generated between
two up-and-down cross triangles and a figure to detect the
coordinates of the touch location. However, its linearity is not
very accurate. The triangle-type touch panel is rarely used
now.
[0005] For the diamond-type touch panel, a plurality of first touch
electrodes 110 and a plurality of second touch electrodes 120 are
spatially arranged to form a sensing array. The width of the
diamond electrode defines a pitch of the sensing units. For a large
sized panel, either the pitch of the sensing units needs being
enlarged, or the number of the sensing units needs being increased.
However, the pitch cannot be enlarged indefinitely, since the
limitation of the figure size. If the pitch is too large, the
finger cannot simultaneously touch two or more sensing units to
induce an effective capacity, thereby not being able precisely to
detect the coordinates of the touch location by utilizing the
variation of the capacity of the two or more sensing units.
Therefore, the pitch of the sensing units is generally of about 4-6
mm. On the other hand, since the channels supported by an IC are
also limited, the number of the sensing units cannot be increased
unlimitedly. Therefore, the diamond-type capacitive touch panel is
usually designed to have a size of about 12 inches or less. If the
size is larger than 12 inches, the touch detection has a poor
linearity, and touch panel can not be utilized for precisely
detecting the coordinates.
[0006] Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art
to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a touch
sensing device. In one embodiment, the touch sensing device
includes a substrate having a plurality of first sensing regions
and a plurality of second sensing regions arranged in a matrix. The
touch sensing device also includes a plurality of first touch
electrodes, alternately arranged along a first direction, each of
the first touch electrodes including a plurality of first sensing
pads. Each of the first sensing pads has a first sensing portion
disposed in a corresponding first sensing region and a first
complementary portion disposed in a corresponding second sensing
region. Further, the touch sensing device includes a plurality of
second touch electrodes, alternately arranged along a second
direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to
form a sensing matrix, each of the second touch electrodes
including a plurality of second sensing pads. Each of the second
sensing pads has a second sensing portion disposed in a
corresponding second sensing region and a second complementary
portion disposed in a corresponding first sensing region. In one
embodiment, a shape of the first complementary portion and the
second complementary portion comprises a triangle or a rhombus.
[0008] Each of the first touch electrodes and the second touch
electrodes respectively is formed of a conductive material. The
first sensing pads of each of the first touch electrodes are
electrically connected to each other in series, and the second
sensing pads of each of the second touch electrodes are
electrically connected to each other in series. In one embodiment,
the plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of second
touch electrodes are electrically insulated from one another.
[0009] Each of the first sensing pads is identical to or
substantially different from each of the second sensing pads. In
one embodiment, each of the first sensing pads has a shape of a
polygon with more than four sides, and each of the second sensing
pads has a shape of a polygon with more than four sides. The first
sensing pads and the second sensing pads are disposed along the
first direction and the second direction, respectively, such that
each of the first sensing pads is surrounded by four second sensing
pads and vice versus.
[0010] In one embodiment, each short side of each of the first
sensing pads is closest to and faces one shortest side of each of
the second sensing pads correspondingly.
[0011] In one embodiment, each of the first sensing pads further
includes at least one first extension portion extended to another
first sensing pad adjacent thereto, and each of the second sensing
pads further includes at least one second extension portion
extended to another second sensing pad adjacent thereto. Further,
each of the first sensing pads comprises at least one first
recesses corresponding to the at least one first extension portion,
and each of the second sensing pads comprises at least one second
recesses corresponding to the at least one second extension
portion.
[0012] The first and second sensing pads are disposed such that
each first sensing pad and the corresponding second sensing pad are
substantially complementary to each other, and are entangled each
other along with the first and second directions
[0013] In one embodiment, each of the first sensing pads and each
of the second sensing pads are formed symmetrically along the first
and second directions and have a polygon structure that is
substantially complementary to each other.
[0014] In another embodiment, each of the first sensing pads and
each of the second sensing pads are substantially identical to each
other and comprise a star-like structure having a rectangular body
and four rectangular members, each rectangular member protruded
from a corresponding side, respectively, of the rectangular body,
such that when disposed, each first sensing pad and a corresponding
second sensing pad are entangled each other along with the first
and second directions.
[0015] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a touch
sensing device. In one embodiment, the touch sensing device
includes a plurality of first touch electrodes, each first touch
electrode having a plurality of first sensing pads, and a plurality
of second touch electrodes, each second touch electrode having a
plurality of second sensing pads, alternately arranged along a
first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular
to the first direction to form a sensing matrix, such that each
first sensing pad and a corresponding second sensing pad are
entangled each other along with at least one of the first and
second directions.
[0016] Each of the plurality of first touch electrodes and the
plurality of second touch electrodes respectively is formed of a
conductive material. The plurality of first touch electrodes and
the plurality of second touch electrodes are electrically insulated
from one another. The first sensing pads of each of the first touch
electrodes are electrically connected to each other in series, and
the second sensing pads of each of the second touch electrodes are
electrically connected to each other in series.
[0017] Each of the first sensing pads is identical to or
substantially different from each of the second sensing pads.
[0018] In one embodiment, each of the first sensing pads is of a
polygon with more than four sides, and each of the second sensing
pads is of a polygon with more than four sides.
[0019] In one embodiment, each of the first sensing pads is a
hexagon with two isosceles triangles oriented such that the vertex
of one isosceles triangle is opposite to the vertex of the other
isosceles triangle, and the base sides of the two isosceles
triangles are partially overlapped so that the hexagon has four
long sides with an equal first length, L1, and two short sides with
an equal second length, L2<L1, and each side parallel to its
corresponding opposite side, wherein each short side defines an
angle, .alpha., relative to two adjacent long sides, respectively.
Each of the second sensing pads is a hexagon having two longest
sides with an equal first length, J1, and two shortest sides with
an equal second length, J2<J1, and each side parallel to its
corresponding opposite side, wherein each shortest side defines an
angle, .beta., relative to two adjacent sides, respectively,
wherein the angles .alpha. and .beta. are complementary to each
other, J1=L2 and J2=L2. The first sensing pads and the second
sensing pads are disposed along the first direction and the second
direction, respectively, such that each of the first sensing pads
and the corresponding second sensing pads are entangled each other
along with the second direction, and each of the first sensing pads
is surrounded by four second sensing pads and vice versus. Each
short side of the first sensing pad is closest to and faces one
shortest side of the second sensing pad correspondingly.
[0020] In another embodiment, each of the first sensing pads
comprises a plurality of first sensing portions forming a
diamond-shaped polygon, at least one first complementary portion
and at least one first extension portion formed at corresponding
vertexes of the diamond-shaped polygon along one of the first and
second directions, wherein each of the at least one first
complementary portion and the at least one first extension portion
is characterized with a dagger-like polygon, and wherein the
plurality of first sensing portions defines a plurality of recesses
having geometric shapes substantially complementary to the at least
one first complementary portion and the at least one first
extension portion. Each of the second sensing pads comprises a
plurality of second sensing portions forming a diamond-shaped
polygon, at least one second complementary portion and at least one
second extension portion formed at corresponding vertexes of the
diamond-shaped polygon along the other of the first and second
directions, wherein each of the at least one second complementary
portion and the at least one second extension portion is
characterized with a dagger-like polygon, and wherein the plurality
of second sensing portions defines a plurality of recesses having
geometric shapes substantially complementary to the at least one
second complementary portion and the at least one second extension
portion. The first and second sensing pads are disposed such that
each first sensing pad and the corresponding second sensing pad are
substantially complementary to each other, and are entangled each
other along with the first and second directions.
[0021] In yet another embodiment, each of the first sensing pads
and each of the second sensing pads are substantially identical to
each other and comprises a star-like structure having a rectangular
body and four rectangular members, each rectangular member
protruded from a corresponding side, respectively, of the
rectangular body, such that when disposed, each first sensing pad
and a corresponding second sensing pad are entangled each other
along with the first and second directions.
[0022] In a further embodiment, each of the first sensing pads is
formed symmetrically along the first and second directions and has
an I-like structure along the first direction, a pair of polygon
structures symmetrically extended from the middle portion of the
I-like structure alone the second direction, and a pair of
triangular tips symmetrically extending the pair of polygon
structures, respectively, alone the second direction. Each of the
second sensing pads is formed symmetrically along the first and
second directions and has a polygon structure that is substantially
complementary to each of the first sensing pads. The first and
second sensing pads are disposed such that each first sensing pad
and the corresponding second sensing pad are substantially
complementary to each other, and are entangled each other along
with the first and second directions.
[0023] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment
taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although
variations and modifications therein may be affected without
departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments
of the invention and, together with the written description, serve
to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to
the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows schematically (a) a top view of a conventional
touch sensor layout of diamond-type electrodes, and (b) a top view
of another conventional touch sensor layout of triangle-type
electrodes;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows schematically a top view of a touch sensor
layout of the first and second electrodes according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 3 shows schematically (a) a first sensing pad, (b) a
second sensing pad, and (c) a top view of a touch sensing pad
layout of the first sensing pads and second sensing pads according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 shows schematically (a) a sensing pad, and (b) a
second sensing pad according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 5 shows schematically a top view of a touch sensing pad
layout of the first sensing pads and second sensing pads according
to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 6 shows schematically (a) a first sensing pad or a
second sensing pad, and (b) a top view of a touch sensing pad
layout of the first sensing pads and second sensing pads according
to a third embodiment of the present invention; and
[0031] FIG. 7 shows schematically (a) a first sensing pad, (b) a
second sensing pad, and (c) a top view of a touch sensing pad
layout of the first sensing pads and second sensing pads according
to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] The present invention is more particularly described in the
following examples that are intended as illustrative only since
numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are
now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers
indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes plural reference unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
[0033] The terms used in this specification generally have their
ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the invention,
and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms
that are used to describe the invention are discussed below, or
elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to
the practitioner regarding the description of the invention. The
use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples
of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way
limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified
term. Likewise, the invention is not limited to various embodiments
given in this specification.
[0034] As used herein, "around", "about", "substantially" or
"approximately" shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably
within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given
value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate,
meaning that the term "around", "about", "substantially" or
"approximately" can be inferred if not expressly stated.
[0035] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including,"
"having," "containing," "involving," and the like are to be
understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not
limited to.
[0036] The description will be made as to the embodiments of the
present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
FIGS. 2-7. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as
embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one
aspect, relates to touch electrodes/sensors designs of a capacitive
touch sensing device.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the touch sensing device, in one
embodiment, includes a substrate 202 having a plurality of first
sensing regions 204 and a plurality of second sensing regions 206
arranged in the form of a matrix, a plurality of first touch
electrodes 210 and a plurality of second touch electrodes 220,
alternately arranged along a first direction D1 and a second
direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1 to form a
sensing matrix/array 200, such that each first touch electrode 210
and a corresponding second touch electrode 220 are entangled each
other along with at least one of the first and second directions D1
and D2.
[0038] The first touch electrodes 210 in each column of the sensing
matrix are electrically connected to each other in series by column
row control lines. The second touch electrodes 220 in each row of
the sensing matrix are electrically connected to each other in
series by a corresponding row control lines. These row control
lines and column row control lines are electrically conductive. The
first and second touch electrodes 210, 220 are formed of a
conductive material. The conductive material includes, but not
limited to, a transparent conductive materials, such as an indium
tin oxide (ITO), an indium zinc oxide (IZO), an cadmium tin oxide
(CTO), cadmium zinc oxide (CZO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO),
aluminum tin oxide (ATO), hafnium oxide (HfO), indium tin zinc
oxide (ITZO), zinc oxide, or combinations thereof, non-transparent
conductive materials, such as Au, Ag, Cu, Fe, Sn, Pb, Cd, Mo, Al,
Ti, Ta, Hf, oxide thereof, nitride thereof, oxy-nitride thereof,
alloy thereof, or combinations thereof.
[0039] The plurality of first touch electrodes 210 and the
plurality of second touch electrodes 220 are electrically insulated
from one another. A dielectric layer (not shown) may be disposed
between the first touch electrodes 210 and the second touch
electrodes 220 for electrical insulation.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, the touch sensing array 200 is
schematically shown. Each first touch electrode 210 can be
identical to or substantially different from each second touch
electrode 220. In this exemplary embodiment, each first touch
electrode 210 is substantially different from each second touch
electrode 220. Each first touch electrode 210 includes a plurality
of first sensing pads 210a connected each other in series and
having a shape of a polygon with more than four sides, and each
second touch electrode 220 includes a plurality of second sensing
pads 220a connected each other in series and having a shape of a
polygon with more than four sides. In this exemplary embodiment,
each of the plurality of first sensing pads 210a is identical to
each other, and each of the plurality of second sensing pads 220a
is identical to each other as well, while the first sensing pad
210a and the second sensing pad 220a are substantially different
from each other.
[0041] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3a-3c, each of the first
sensing pads 210a has a first sensing portion 2102 disposed in a
corresponding first sensing region 204 and a first complementary
portion 2104 disposed in a corresponding second sensing region 206.
Each of the second sensing pads 220a has a second sensing portion
2202 disposed in a corresponding second sensing region 206 and a
second complementary portion 2204 disposed in a corresponding first
sensing region 204. In the exemplary embodiment, a shape of the
first complementary portion 2104 and the second complementary
portion 2204 comprises a triangle.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3a, the first sensing pads 210a is of a
hexagon characterized with two isosceles triangles 218 and 219
oriented such that the vertex of one isosceles triangle 218 is
opposite to the vertex of the other isosceles triangle 219, and the
base sides of the two isosceles triangles 218 and 219 are partially
overlapped so that the hexagon has four long sides 211-214 with an
equal first length, L1, and two short sides 215 and 216 with an
equal second length, L2<L1. The four long sides 211-214 are
corresponding to the congruent sides of the two isosceles triangles
218 and 219, while the two short sides 215 and 216 are
corresponding to the non-overlapped portions of the bases of the
two isosceles triangles 218 and 219. Further, each side is parallel
to its corresponding opposite side. For example, the two opposite
long sides 211 and 213 are parallel to each other; the two opposite
long sides 212 and 214 are parallel to each other; and the two
short sides 215 and 216 are parallel to each other. Additionally,
each short side 215/216 defines an angle, .alpha., relative to two
adjacent long sides 211/213 and 214/214, respectively.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 3b, the second sensing pads 220a is of a
hexagon having a first pair of opposite, parallel sides 221 and 224
with an equal first length, J1, a second pair of opposite, parallel
sides 222 and 225 with an equal second length, J2<J1, and a
third pair of opposite, parallel sides 223 and 226. The first pair
of sides 221 and 224 is the longest sides, while the second pair of
sides 222 and 225 is the shortest sides. As shown in FIG. 2b, each
shortest side 222/225 defines an angle, .beta., relative to two
adjacent sides 221/224 and 233/226, respectively.
[0044] In the exemplary embodiment, the angles .alpha. and .beta.
are complementary to each other, J1=L2 and J2=L2.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3c, the first and second sensing
pads 210a and 220a are disposed complementarily along the first and
second directions D1 and D2, respectively. Each first sensing pad
210a is surrounded by four adjacent second sensing pads 220a, and
vice versus. For example, the long side 212 of the first sensing
pad 210a is closest to and faces the side 226 of the second sensing
pad 220a; the short side 215 of the first sensing pad 210a is
closest to and faces the shortest side 225 of the second sensing
pad 220a; and the long side 213 of the first sensing pad 210a is
closest to and faces the longest side 224 of the second sensing pad
220b, and so on. As a result, each first sensing pad 210a and the
corresponding second sensing pad 220a are entangled each other
along with the second direction D2.
[0046] In this configuration, the pitches, Px and Py, of the
sensing unit (electrode) along the first and second directions D1
and D2 are same as that of a conventional diamond-type sensing
unit. However, the linearity and sensitivity of the touch detection
of the touch sensing device of the present invention is improved
because of the entanglement of the first and second sensing pads
210a and 220a with first and second complementary portions 2104,
2204.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a touch sensing array 400 used
in a touch sensing device is shown according to another embodiment
of the present invention. The touch sensing array 400 includes a
plurality of first touch electrodes 410, as shown in FIG. 4a, and a
plurality of second touch electrodes 420, as shown in FIG. 4b. The
plurality of first touch electrodes 410 and the plurality of second
touch electrodes 420 are alternately arranged along a first
direction D1 and a second direction D2 to form a sensing array 400.
Each first touch electrode 410 has a plurality of identical first
sensing pads 410a. Each second touch electrode 420 has a plurality
of identical second sensing pads 420a. The first sensing pad 410a
and the second sensing pad 420a are geometrically identical to each
other. However, the first sensing pad 410a and the second sensing
pad 420a, as assembled, are oriented along the first and second
directions D1 and D2, respectively, such that each first sensing
pad 410a and a corresponding second sensing pad 420a are entangled
each other along the first and second directions D1 and D2.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 4a, the first sensing pad 410a, 410b, 410c
or 410d has four first sensing portions 411a-411d forming a
diamond-shaped polygon sensing portion, which defines four recesses
415a, 415b, 416a and 416b therein. The diamond-shaped polygon
sensing portion is sized to be placed in a first sensing region 404
of the sensing array 400, as shown in FIG. 5. The first sensing pad
410a, 410b, 410c or 410d also has two first complementary portions
412a and 412b formed at bottom and top vertexes, respectively, of
the diamond-shaped polygon sensing portion along the second
direction D2, and two first extension portions 413a and 413b
extending from left and right vertexes, respectively, of the
diamond-shaped polygon sensing portion along the first direction
D1. Each of the first complementary portions 412a and 412b and the
first extension portions 413a and 413b is characterized with a
dagger-like polygon that is substantially complementary to a
geometric shape of the recesses 415a, 415b, 416a and 416b.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 4b, the second sensing pad 420a, 420b, 420c
or 420d has four first sensing portions 421a-421d forming a
diamond-shaped polygon sensing portion, which defines four recesses
425a, 425b, 426a and 426b therein. The diamond-shaped polygon
sensing portion is sized to be placed in a second sensing region
406 of the sensing array 400, as shown in FIG. 5. The second
sensing pad 420a, 420b, 420c or 420d also has two second
complementary portions 422a and 422b formed at left and right
vertexes, respectively, of the diamond-shaped polygon sensing
portion along the first direction D1, and two second extension
portions 423a and 423b extending from bottom and top vertexes,
respectively, of the diamond-shaped polygon sensing portion along
the first direction D1. Each of the second complementary portions
422a and 422b and the second extension portions 423a and 423b is
characterized with a dagger-like polygon that is substantially
complementary to a geometric shape of the recesses 425a, 425b, 426a
and 426b.
[0050] Accordingly, when the first and second touch electrodes 410
and 420 are disposed in the first and second sensing regions 404
and 406, respectively, to form the sensing array 400, each first
sensing pad 410a and a corresponding second sensing pad 420a are
entangled each other along the first and second directions D1 and
D2, so that each first touch electrode 410 and the corresponding
second touch electrode 420 are substantially complementary to each
other, as shown in FIG. 5. For example, the first complementary
portions 412a and 412b of the first sensing pad 410b are disposed
in the recess 425c of the second sensing pad 420a and the recess
425a of the second sensing pad 420e, respectively, and the first
extension portions 413a and 413b of the first sensing pad 410b are
disposed in the recess 416a of the first sensing pad adjacent to
the left-side vertex of the first sensing pad 410b (not shown) and
the recess 416b of the sensing pad 410e, respectively. Similarly,
the second complementary portions 422a and 422b of the second
sensing pad 420b are disposed in the recess 415a of the first
sensing pad 410b and the recess 415b of the first sensing pad 410d,
respectively, and the second extension portions 423a and 423b of
the second sensing pad 420b are disposed in the recess 425d of the
second sensing pad 420e and the recess 425b of the second sensing
pad adjacent to the bottom vertex of the second sensing pad 420b
(not shown), respectively. As a result, the first sensing pads
410a-410e and the second sensing pads 420a-420e are entangled each
other through the first and second complementary portions 412a,
412b, 422a and 422b, and the first and second extension portions
413a, 413b, 423a and 423b, along the first and second directions D1
and D2.
[0051] In other words, all adjacent first and second touch
electrodes 410 and 420 are entangled to each other not along the
first and second directions D1 and D2, but also along the diagonal
directions of the first and second directions D1 and D2. For
example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first sensing pad 410b is
entangled with not only four neighboring second sensing pads 420a,
420b, 420d and 420e, but also four neighboring first sensing pads
410a, 410c, 410e and one that is adjacent to the left-side vertex
of the first sensing pad 410b (not shown). The second sensing pad
420b is entangled with not only four neighboring first sensing pads
410a, 410b, 410d and 410e, but also four neighboring second sensing
pads 410a, 410c, 410e and one that is adjacent to the bottom-side
vertex of the second sensing pad 420b (not shown). The same
entanglement is also applied to other first sensing pads and second
sensing pads. As such an arrangement, the first complementary
portion 412b of the first sensing pad 410b and the first
complementary portion 412a of its neighboring first sensing pad
410c along the first direction D1, and the second complementary
portion 422b of the second sensing pad 420d and the second
complementary portion 422a of its neighboring second sensing pad
420e along the second direction D2 define a first entangled region
440, while the first extension portion 413b of the first sensing
pad 410b and the first extension portion 413a of its neighboring
first sensing pad 410e along the second direction D2, and the
second extension portion 423a of the second sensing pads 420b and
the second extension portion 423b of its neighboring second sensing
pad 420e along the first direction D1 define a second entangled
region 450.
[0052] Similarly, the sensitivity of the touch detection of the
touch sensing device of the present invention is improved because
of the entanglement of the first and second touch electrodes 410
and 420.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, a touch sensing array 600 used in a
touch sensing device is shown according to one embodiment of the
present invention. The touch sensing array 600 includes a plurality
of first touch electrodes 610, and a plurality of second touch
electrodes 620, which is identical to the plurality of first touch
electrodes 610. As shown in FIG. 6a, the first touch electrode 610
includes a plurality of star-like structures/sensing pads 610a.
Each star-like sensing pad 610a has a rectangular body 615 and four
rectangular members 611-614, with each rectangular member protruded
from a corresponding side, respectively, of the rectangular body
615. The star-like sensing pad 610a/620a defines a touch sensing
portion disposed in the sensing region 604 and the complementary
portion 618 adapted for entangling with the neighboring sensing
pads 610a and 620a. As shown in FIG. 6b, the plurality of first
sensing pads 610a and the plurality of second sensing pads 620a are
alternately arranged along a first direction D1 and a second
direction D2 to form a sensing array 600. Each first sensing pad
610a and a corresponding second sensing pad 620a are entangled each
other along with the first and second directions D1 and D2.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 7, a touch sensing array 700 used in a
touch sensing device is shown according to another embodiment of
the present invention. The touch sensing array 700 includes a
plurality of first touch sensing pads 710a/710b, and a plurality of
second touch sensing pads 720a/720b. Each first touch sensing pad
710a/710b is identical to one another and each second touch sensing
pads 720a/720b is identical to one another as well. However, the
first touch sensing pad 710a/710b and the second touch sensing pads
720a/720b are substantially different from each other.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 7a, the first touch sensing pad 710a is
formed symmetrically along the first and second directions D1 and
D2 and has an I-like structure 711 along the first direction D1, a
pair of polygon structures 712 and 713 symmetrically extended from
the middle portion of the I-like structure 711 alone the second
direction D2, and a pair of triangular tips 714 and 715
symmetrically extending from the pair of polygon structures 712 and
713, respectively, alone the second direction D2. Additionally,
there is a void portion 716/717 formed in each polygon structure
712/713. The void portion 716/717 is geometrically identical to the
corresponding triangular tip 714/715. The I-like structure 711 and
the pair of polygon structures 712 and 713 define a plurality of
recesses 718a-718d.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 7b, the second touch sensing pad 720a is
formed symmetrically along the first and second directions D1 and
D2 and has a polygon structure having a body 721, four arms
728a-728d symmetrically extending from the body 721, two triangular
tip 722 and 723 symmetrically extending from the body 721 along the
first direction D1. The four arms 728a-728d are geometrically
corresponding to the plurality of recesses 718a-718d of the first
touch sensing pad 710a. The second touch sensing pad 720a also has
two void portions 724 and 725 formed in the body 721. The void
portion 724/725 is geometrically identical to the corresponding
triangular tip 722/723.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 7c, in the sensing array 700, the first and
second touch sensing pads 710a/710b and 720a/720b are substantially
complementary to each other, and are entangled each other along
with the first and second directions D1 and D2. For example, in an
entangled region 740, all adjacent two first touch sensing pads
710a and 710b and two adjacent second touch sensing pads 720a and
720b are entangled to each other. In another entangled region 750,
all adjacent two first touch sensing pads 710a and 710c and two
adjacent second touch sensing pads 720b and 720c are entangled to
each other, as well. Similarly, the sensitivity of the touch
detection of the touch sensing device 700 of the present invention
is improved because of the entanglement of the first and second
touch sensing pads.
[0058] According to the present invention, the above-disclosed
touch electrode/sensor array can be formed on any kind of
substrate, such as a substrate within a plurality of the pixels of
the display panel or in a blank substrate. The sensor array can be
positioned into at least portion of the pixels and/or into a region
without the pixels while the sensor array is disposed in the
substrate of the display panel. The sensor array can be formed on
the outer surface the upper substrate of a display panel. An
auxiliary substrate can be optionally formed between the touch
sensor array and the upper substrate. The touch sensor array also
can be integrated between the color filter layer and the upper
substrate.
[0059] The present invention, among other things, discloses a
variety of sensor layouts of a touch sensing device, which utilizes
the entanglement of the first and second touch electrodes to
improve the sensitivity of the touch detection of the touch sensing
device. Even the touch unit having a size larger than 12 inches,
the touch detection of the touch sensing device still has good
linearity and sensitivity.
[0060] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the invention has been presented only for the purposes of
illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching.
[0061] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
explain the principles of the invention and their practical
application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize
the invention and various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in
the art to which the present invention pertains without departing
from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present
invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the
foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described
therein.
* * * * *